Long years of hard work in another country finally paid off on this day, as another Japanese champion rejoiced on the domestic professional stage. 

Ayako Sakai (Japan, Hana Card) rallied from behind to defeat Kim Min-ah (NH Card) 4-2 (8-11, 11-10, 4-11, 11-0, 11-8, 11-6) in the final of the Eswai LPBA Championship at the Kintex PBA Stadium in Goyang, South Korea on Thursday to claim her first professional title. 

Sakai has been active in professional billiards since its inception in the 19-20 season, with a brief hiatus in the 20-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, with his improved performance, he joined Hana Card and has been competing in the team league.

Sakai's performance was at its peak in the semifinals, where he hit 10 bank shots. His "clutch bank shots" proved to be just as powerful in the final.

Sakai, who finally broke out of her shell after coming to a foreign league, became the third Japanese LPBA champion after Hida Oriie (SK Rent-a-Car) and Higashiuchi Natsumi (Welcome Savings Bank). 

In the third game of the first set, Kim raced to a six-point lead. Sakai then took advantage of the opportunity and started to rack up points. However, her bank shot from behind was blocked by a kiss and she was unable to score. Kim scored back-to-back points with a reversal to take an 8-1 lead. Sakai tried another bank shot but missed the chance. However, after accumulating four points in the seventh, she managed to pull back to within one point with a bank shot of her own, and the score was leveled at 8-8 in the ninth. After a thrilling chase, Kim took the first set 11-8.

Kim's momentum continued in the second set. She scored a high seven points in the first game, including a bank shot, and cruised to victory. Sakai, on the other hand, continued to try bank shots, but this time it didn't work out. While Sakai was stuck at three points, Kim Min-ah racked up another effortless point.

Once again, Sakai was relentless and kept Kim on her toes. In the ninth, she scored four consecutive points to pull within 8-9. In the 10th game, they were tied at 10-10 with match point, and it was a thrilling situation. In the last game, Sakai hit a lucky shot to take the match 11-10 and the second set.

While Kim took the third set in 10 games, Sakai came alive in the second game of the fourth 토토 set to take a 9-0 lead over Kim. This time, Kim was caught flat-footed by back-to-back balls. A bank shot by Sakai in the final game tied the set at 2-2 and made it a close match. After a hard-fought fifth set, Sakai hit another bank shot in the 10th to break through. 

The match went to a sixth set. The two players were locked at one point apiece, and the score remained tied at one point until the 10th game. The rally continued into the 13th, and with the score tied at 6-6, Sakai hit another bank shot. Kim hung her head in shame at her repeated errors. 

With her third Japanese title on the line, Sakai hit a bank shot to win the final game, 11-6, and the match.